Letters
Using death certificates to identify malpractice might be difficult
BMJ 2001; 322 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.322.7281.303/a (Published 03 February 2001) Cite this as: BMJ 2001;322:303
- Adam Coldwells, development and research manager (adam.coldwells@ghc.grampian.scot.nhs),
- Fiona Fraser, clinical audit assistant,
- Pam Tavendale, trust-wide clinical governance coordinator,
- George Crooks, associate medical director,
- Gordon Peterkin, medical director
- Grampian Primary Care NHS Trust, Aberdeen AB25 2ZP
- Grampian Primary Care NHS Trust, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen AB25 2ZH
EDITOR—In January 2000 Dr Harold Shipman, a general practitioner in Greater Manchester, was convicted of murdering 15 of his patients. 1 2 This conviction has fostered considerable comment and a need to prevent any recurrence. Although a quantitative technique to identify malpractice has limitations,3 a description of basic data should act as a starting point.
We performed some simple investigations on death certificate records for 1998, after agreement from …
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